IRRETRIEVABLE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

irretrievable

adjective

ˌir-i-ˈtrē-və-bəl

Definition of irretrievable

as in hopeless

not capable of being cured or reformed an irretrievable drug addict who had wasted a once-promising life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irreparable

not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone this is just an irretrievable mess, so let's start all over again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irretrievable Days before, Sheriff Nanos had said images were irretrievable. — Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026 This dreamscape of the island, like that of the jungle, illuminates in children’s literature a sense of utopia and longing about childhood as a not-quite-place, situated in an irretrievable past-yet-future, while at the same time rooted in an anti-utopian logic of adulthood. — Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025 Alcaraz broke the Italian twice, winning the set with an incredible backhand flick from what looked like an irretrievable position and cupping his ear. — Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 There is a genuinely irretrievable, ephemeral, low-res version of the movie. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for irretrievable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irretrievable

Adjective

This latest attempt to move, a hopeless punt to have his contract annulled in order to leave on a free sooner, will likely see anger return at Selhurst Park on Friday night against Manchester City.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Ever the hopeless romantic, Ted searches for the love of his life through a constant series of twists, turns, diversions, blue French horns, slap bets, and yellow umbrellas.

— Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

Those issues go to irreparable harm, meaning a harm that can’t be remedied by money, which plays an important role in the litigation.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Francesco Abbruscato, president of the local Alpine Club, told local media that those who come for pastries instead of peace are causing irreparable damage.

— Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of irreparable

Adjective

Metastatic breast cancer remains incurable, and treatment generally continues with the goals of controlling the disease, extending life, managing symptoms and preserving quality of life.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026
Adults with cancers considered incurable a generation ago are in remission years after a single infusion.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of incurable

Adjective

None of this is irreversible, which is precisely why the CDC’s complacency is so hard to forgive.

— A.J. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Dimensions | Getty Millions of people roll money from a workplace retirement plan to an individual retirement account each year — and mistakes can prove both costly and irreversible.

— Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of irreversible

Adjective

Countless documents were left lying out in the open and quickly became irrecoverable.

— Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
At the same time, much of the world is facing water bankruptcy, meaning people and industries are using more fresh water than nature can replenish, leading to irrecoverable ecosystem damages.

— Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of irrecoverable

Adjective

If the answer involves customer harm, regulatory exposure or unrecoverable decisions, AI as autonomy is being requested at the wrong scope.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
The business also has made Space Shuttle drag parachutes for the orbiter, and parachutes that deploy from the tails of F-22 and F-35 military jets to break them from unrecoverable stalls or spins.

— Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Definition of unrecoverable

Adjective

Early moves from England to Ireland to Nigeria and then back to England had left me feeling an irremediable outsider.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Many of the country’s top psychiatric groups warn that there is no empirical standard for determining whether a mental-health condition is irremediable.

— Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026

Definition of irremediable

Adjective

In interviews, colleagues and friends have painted the portrait of Galliano before his downfall as a brilliant designer as well as an incorrigible drunk who trashed hotel rooms.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Graham, who died unexpectedly on July 11 at age 71, was equally irascible and incorrigible.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 28 July 2026

Definition of incorrigible

Browse Nearby Words

irresponsibleness

irretrievable

irreverence

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“Irretrievable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irretrievable. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of irretrievable

adjective

Example Sentences

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